The beginning of 2008 God inspired a family ministry called Emerging Life Ministries. At first it was more of an idea than reality but He is gradually unfolding His purpose for this ministry. May He emerge more deeply in your life through this ministry. Visit the complete website at www.emerginglifeministries.net

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

God's Mindfulness

“The mind of man plans
his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.

If there is any verse in the Bible that I have learned the
hard way it is this one.For this girl,
I have been planning things since I was a child.I have been mindful of what to do, when to do and how to do in every aspect of my
life.I have made up my mind on a
million different ideas, opinions and plots.I have had momentary successes but more consequential missteps.I have had dreams dashed and expectations
never realized.I have feared the
anticipated death of a family member only for her to live, and experienced the
deaths of others that I didn’t see coming.When I think I have something figured out the opposite occurs.I finally told my mother a while back that ‘the only thing I know for sure is that I
don’t know anything at all!’We now
say that frequently and it seems to fit in most situations.

What does the woman do who never planned on being abandoned
by her husband in her forties…or the man who was welcomed into the company years
ago only to be let go right before retirement.What do we do with the dream of parenthood replaced with the reality of
infertility?The mind of man trumped by the
mind of God… who can reconcile its
mysteries?The bottom line truth is
that whatever we have faced or will face has been directed by God or allowed by
God.With this truth, we must settle in
our hearts that GOD IS LOVE first and foremost.He will use any hardship we face to show us more of Himself.Just as we are motivated by love when
directing the steps of our children, God is also working out of His love for us
to develop us into our best.God is
concerned with intimacy first, with plans and purposes being secondary.Whatever comes into our lives God will use
every challenging circumstance and painful situation to move more deeply in
fellowship with us.

‘While we often want the easiest and least
challenging route to abundant life in Christ, we must acknowledge that God
wants to take us on the path that fosters a deeper relationship with Him.He wants to lay aside our determination to do
life our way and follow Him.Only when
we do this can we truly become ready to face what lies ahead.’ One In A
Million, p. 40.We must never lose
sight of his sovereignty and the amazement of His mighty works.

‘When I consider your
heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set
in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care
for him?’ Psalm 8:3-4.